You are on page 1of 11

SOCIOLOGY 4371; Section 001

SOCIOLOGY of MENTAL HEALTH and ILLNESS

TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS: 1:00 pm to 12: pm


Location: SOM 2.901

The Course Instructor:

Philip K. Armour, Ph.D.,


Associate Professor of Sociology and Public Policy
School of Social Sciences
Mail Station: GR 3.1
The University of Texas at Dallas
800 West Campbell Road
Richardson, Texas 75080-3021

Office in the Green Building: GR 3.822;


Telephone: 972-883-2734
Email: pkarmour@utdallas.edu

Office Hours and Days: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2:45pm to 4 pm;


Appointments for other days and times are available; contact Dr. Armour in person, or by
calling 972-883-2734, or by email at pkarmour@utdallas.edu

COURSE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

This course is an overview and survey of sociological, psychological, and psychiatric


understandings of and modes of treatment of mental disorders. This course presents a
history of the treatment of the mentally disordered as well as the forces and factors of
age, gender, marital status, race, ethnicity, geographical forces, and even touches on
political factors as they are correlates of and/or causes of mental disorders. This course
will attempt to address the relative effect of biological vs. social forces as determinants of
mental disorders---of disturbances in thoughts, feelings, verbalizations, and behavior, and
social interaction. In this semester we will also examine the societal response of mental
disorders, at the individual, small group, familial, social, political, and economic levels.
A particular foci of this course are the governmental policies, services, and programs, in
the United States and other nations for the mentally disordered. In this course an
examination of public policies, governmental and non-profit, in Texas and the Dallas will
be conducted. A critique of contemporary mental health policies and programs can be
conducted after this review of present responses to individuals and groups afflicted with
mental disorders and diseases.
MODES of INSTRUCTION

This course will use several modes of instruction to enhance students’ understanding of
mental disorders:

1. The Required Books. The courses employing a textbook that provides an overview of
the field of study and additional two books; one of these works is a social psychiatric
evaluation studies of specific categories of persons with types of mental disorder that has
a significant, wide-ranging impact on individuals, families, and society as a whole---the
anti-social personality disorder. The second book is an autobiography of a person
suffering from the obsessive personality disorder. This work also contains reports on the
impact of other mental disorders in the lives of persons that intersect with the author of
the autobiography.

2. The Optional Reading. The “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV-TR” of the
American Psychiatric Association is available for students wishing to purchase this
reference book for their personal libraries. DSM IV-TR will be reviewed in this course,
and students may desire to have the complete work to deepen their understanding of this
standard, professional academic, research, and clinical reference tool. The purchase of
and use of this manual is OPTIONAL.

3. The Types of Instruction. The modes of instruction employed in this course will be
lectures and in class discussions over the course of the required readings and extra
readings from current developments in mental health policy at the local, state, national,
and international levels. Student questions and discussion is will expected and
encouraged.

4. The Examinations. Students will be examined by means of two take-home, essay-type,


examinations, one mid-term and one final; of course, these examinations, will have
specific page and requirements that will accompany the concept identifications and
questions. Specific guidelines for each examination will accompany the questions posed
and the concepts that students are expected to demonstrate the mastery of. Examination
questions will be handed out in advanced of the due date in time for students to ask
questions about the examination in class and in office hours.

5. A Mental Health Film Critique Requirement. Students are required to select from a
group of films and movies based on the lives and experiences of persons with mental
disorders and write critiques of these films and movies following guidelines provided by
Dr. Armour. This collection of films must draw from is provided for a two-night rental
by Premier Video in Dallas, Texas, on East Mockingbird Lane @ North Central
Expressway and across from the DART Mockingbird Station. The list of these films and
the guidelines for these critical film reviews students are required to write will be
provided as a supplement to the syllabus.

6. Class Attendance. Students will be given credit at the semester’s end, in the
computation of the final grade, FOR attendance of class over the course of the semester.
Attendance will be taken during each class session. Students can be exempted from class
for verifiable health, mental health, educational, occupational, familial, or disability
requirements.

SOIOLOGY of MENTAL HEATH and ILLNESS SYLLABUS of READING


ASSIGNMENTS, EXAMINATION, and FILM REVIEW DUE DATES

THE REQUIRED BOOKS:

“Sociology of Mental Disorders”, 7th Edition, (Pearson Prentice Hall, 2006), by


William C. Cockerham, Ph.D.

“Bad Boys, Bad Men: Confronting Antisocial Personal Disorder”,


(Oxford University Press, 1999), by
Donald W. Black, M.D. (with Lindon Larson)

“Songs from the Black Chair: A Memoir of Mental Interiors”,


(University of Nebraska Press, 2005), by
Charles Barber

THE OPTIONAL BOOK:

“Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV-TR of the American Psychiatric Association”


(American Psychiatric Association, Washington, D.D., 2000)

DATES of CLASS LECTURE TOPICES and READING ASSINGNMENTS:

August 20: The Problems of Mental Disorders

Cockerham, Chapter One

Aug. 25 & 27: Typology of Mental Disorders

Required Reading: Cockerham, Chapters Two and Three

Optional reading:

APA’s “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV-TR”

September 1 & 3 Typology of Mental Disorder (cont.’d)


Cockerham, Chapters Two and Three
Optional Reading: “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV-TR”

Sept. 8 & 10: Causes and Cures of Mental Disorders (cont.d)

Cockerham, Chapters Three and Four

Optional Reading: “DSM IV-TR”

SEPTEMBER 10: FILM REVIEW NUMBER ONE DUE IN CLASS or


GR 3.822 at 12:45 pm

Sept. 15 & 17: Social Epidemiology of Mental Disorders

Cockerham, Chapter 5 and Chap. 6

Sept. 22 & 24: Age, Gender, and Marital Status and Mental Disorders

Cockerham, Chapters 7

Sept. 29: Race, Ethnicity, and Mental Disorders

Cockerham, Chapter 9

OCTOBER 1: MID-TERM EXAMINATION DUE in CLASS


or in GR 3.822 at 12:45 pm

October 1: Psychiatric Disorders and Geographic Factors

Cockerham, Chap. 8

Oct. 6 & 8: Pre-Patient Phase, Help Seeking Behavior, and the Hospital Patient

Cockerham, Chaps. 10 and 12

Oct. 13 and 15: Acting Mentally Ill: An Overview of Schizophrenia, Depression, &
Anxiety Disorders
Cockerham, Chap.11

Optional Reading: “DSM-IV-TR” pp 297-511

OCTOBER 15: FILM REVIEW NUMBER TWO DUE IN CLASS or


GR 3.822 at 12: 45 pm

Oct. 20 & 22: Acting Mentally Ill: Case of the Antisocial Personality Disorder

Dr. Donald Black’s “Bad Boys, Bad Men”


Optional Reading: DSM IV-TR; pp.701-706; pp. 93-102; pp. 191-295

Oct. 27 & 29: Case of the Mentally Ill: Anti-Social Personality Disorder (Cont’d.)

“Bad Boys, Bad Men”; relevant DSM IV-TR sections

November 3 & 5: Case of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Charles Barber’s “Songs from the Black Chair”

Optional: DSM IV-TR: pp. 456-463; pp. 725-729

November 10 & 12: Case of the Mentally Ill: “O.C.D.” Treatments and Outcomes

Barber’s “Song’s From a Black Chair”

Nov. 17 & 19: Community Care and Public Policy

Cockerham, Chap. 13, 14, and 15

Nov. 24: Mental Health Policy and Care in Selected Countries

Cockerham, Chap. 16

NOVEMBER 24: FILM REVIEW NUMBER THREE DUE IN CLASS or


GR 3.822 at 12:45 pm

November 26 & 27: THANKSGIVING DAY HOLIDAY

December 1: Issues in Mental Health Policy and Treatment in the North Texas Region

Discussion of Selected Handout Readings and Reports

Dec.3: Preparation for Take-Home Final Examination

Dec. 17: TAKE-HOME FINAL EXAMINATION DUE IN GR 3.822 AT 12 NOON

Attachment: Guidelines for Film and Movie Reviews

Addenda: UTD Rules and Regulations


GUIDELINES for FILM REVIEWS

DUE DATES and TIMES and LOCATIONS

FILM REVIEW DUE DATES ARE AS FOLLOWS:

September 10th in class at 1 pm or in GR 3.822 at 12:45 pm

October 15th in class at 1 pm or in GR 3.822 at 12:45 pm

November 24th in class at 1pm or in GR 3.822 at 12:45 pm

All FILM REVIEWS are due IN CLASS on the day and at the beginning of class at 1
pm. Film reviews may be turned in, by 12:45 pm, prior to the beginning of class. Unless
accompanied by a valid excuse, ALL invalidly late reviews are subject to being FAILED
in their entirety.

ACCEPTABLE FILM TITLES

Only the following film and movie titles are acceptable for students to view and to write a
critical, analytical review of for academic credit. NO OTHER FILMS or MOVIES
WILL APPROVED or ARE ACCETABLE. DO NOT APPLY FOR CREDIT FOR
ANY OTHER FILM or MOVIE. Such applications will be refused. If a student
stubbornly or in ignorance submits a review of films or movie not on the approved list,
this review automatically will be assigned the grade of “F”. There will be NO exceptions
made in these cases of reviews that failed because they are not on the approved list.
Ignorance of this rule is NOT an excuse that a student can employ it in attempting to
appeal a failing grade for an unacceptable review.

FORMAT for REVIEWS:

All reviews must have a title page, upon which students type their name, student i.d.
number (no Social Security numbers please), school, major, academic year, email
address, and telephone number. On the title page should be typed the title of the film and
the name of the leading “stars” of the film and the film’s director, screen writer, and film
company must be listed.

Reviews can be no more than THREE (3) PAGES long, whether the review is printed or
and typed either in a single or double space format. If single spacing is employed, then
the review must be double spaced between its paragraphs. No handwritten reviews will
be accepted, in part or in toto.

Reviews must state the title of the film, list the film’s director, the actors, screen writers,
and the original source of the script (e.g., novel, stage play, or other original film and the
author(s) of this original source). Notable set designers, costume designers, and musical
score of the film should also be noted. The producer and film company distributing the
film must be noted. The review should state the significance of the film’s pedigree, its
director, screen writer, source of the script (novel, for example), impact the film had on
the actor’s careers; try to answer the questions: how did an actor’s status raise that of the
film, or conversely, how did the film’s overall positive impact enhance the career of the
film’s actors?

Awards the film, its creators, actors, and other creative artists have won must also be
noted. List all awards on a separate sheet of paper, not counted in the main body of the
review itself.

A SYNAPOSIS OF THE FILM

Present, in brief, the storyline of the film or movie script. Lay out the plot of the movie.
Some films seem to lack a clear, linear progression of events or lack an unfolding sotry
with a beginning, middle and ending. Such films consist more of images and strive to
create moods or sensations in audiences. Other movies are simply re-tell an old story,
with a clear message, conveyed from beginning to end. Still other films are character or
personality studies that may also encompass the portrait of intimate relationships. And,
then there are films that are full of twists and turns, surprises and outrageous
developments; discuss the impact of such movies that are full of thrills and chills. Still,
many movies are preach “sermons”, seek to deliver messages in order to move an
audience’s emotions, convince them of the correctness of social or religious causes, or
point out the horrible wrongs that have been wrought by evil doers performing selfish,
lustful, greedy, and sinful deeds in the world. Present how the film and its characters,
and their actions and interactions, and the events of the times depicted in the movie
develop overtime in attaining goals or are blocked in doing so.

OFFER A CRITIQUE OF THE FILM

How well does the film or movie attain its goals or objects (as best you can discern
them)? Is this movie a success, or modest achievement, or boring, or a complete failure?
Tell us why. How it could less than successful movies or films achieve their goals? What
contributions does this film or movie make? If it fails to attain its own objects, or those
you had for it, in what ways could it do so? Does this film further any particular actor?
Is this film “path braking” in some way? Tell us how this film furthers an actor or group
of actors’ careers.
24 August 2009

MEMO TO: Students enrolled in SOCIOLOGY OF MENTAL HEALTH and


ILLNESS; Sociology 4371; Section 001

FROM: Philip K. Armour, Ph.D.,


Associate Professor of Sociology and Political Economy
School of Economic, Political, and Policy Sciences
Mail Station GR 31; Office GR 3.822
The University of Texas at Dallas
800 West Campbell Road
Richardson, Texas 75080-3021
Email: pkarmour@utdallas.edu
Office phone: 972-883-2734

RE: Rental Sources of Films and Movies for Viewing for Sociology 4371

Students are required to write THREE film reviews for Sociology of Mental Health and
Illness. Students MUST select these THREE films or movies for reviewing from the list,
and ONLY this list, provided by Dr. Armour. These film reviews are due in class at 10
am (or in Dr. Armour’s office by 9:45 am) on September 17th, October 15th, and on
November 24th, 2009.

All these 25 films and movies approved for viewing are available for rental at Premiere
Video, on 5400 East Mockingbird Lane, Dallas, Texas (telephone number: 214-827-
8969). See the Guidelines for Film and Movie Review attachment to the Course Syllabus
for directions to Premiere Video. Remember, Premiere Video is accessible by the UTD
Dart Shuttle Bus Service and the DART Red Line rail service.

Students may also obtain these 25 films and movies from ANY OTHER rental source of
their choosing. Students may check out form any library of their choosing the films or
movies for viewing for this course. These libraries include the UTD Library, the City of
Dallas Library, and the libraries of the cities of Richardson, Plano, or other North Texas
cities.

Two such on-line rental outlets are NETFLEX (netflex.com) and BLOCKBUSTER
VIDEO (blockbuster.com). Remember only the 25 films or movies on the list provided
by Dr. Armour fulfill this viewing requirement for Mental Health and Illness. NO
OTHER movies or films may be substituted for those on this approved list.

NETFLEX is an on-line rental company that provides excellent postal service. Simply
type in “netflex.com” and up will “pop” a website containing thousands of films and
movies. Netflex has a Classic Movie subdirectory upon where one can find many, if not
most, of the films on the viewing list for Sociology 4371 Mental Health and Illness.
BLOCKBUSTER also has an on-line service as well as free-standing stores where one
can rent movies. Some of the films and movies may also be found at Blockbuster for
rental. Type in “blockbuster.com” to obtain a list of films and movies one may rent for
viewing to fulfill this requirement for Sociology 4371.

SO, students have FOUR or MORE sources they can employ to rent or borrow films or
movies for viewing in order to fulfill part of this requirement of Sociology of Mental
Health and Illness. Once having viewed at least three movies or films, the second task
students must complete is writing critical reviews for THREE of the films or movies to
be submitted by the deadlines stipulated.

See Attachments

SOCIOLOGY OF MENTAL HEALTH and ILLNESS FALL 2009


SOCIOLOGY 4371
Philip K. Arnour, Ph.D.,
Associate Professor of Sociology and Political Economy
School of Economic, Political, and Policy Sciences
Office: GR 3.822 in the Green Building
Mail Station: GR 31
800 West Campbell Road
Richardson, Texas 75080-3021

Email: pkarmour@utdallas.edu
Office phone: 972-883-2734

IN-CLASS, “ SNAP” QUIZ #1

TOTAL VALUE OF THE QUIZ: 25 POINTS


EACH QUESTION IS WORTH: 5 POINTS

IN-CLASS, “SNAP” QUIZ GROUND RULES

This IN-CLASS, “SNAP” QUIZ is designed to determine if students are taking lecture
and discussion notes, reading and taking notes on the assigned course material, and
THINKING about the content of the readings, lectures, and discussions. Evidence of a
student’s creative intellectual mastery of the content of the course is to be demonstrated
in this quiz. Integration of course material and lecture content from related courses should
also be exposed in this brief examination.

The “SNAP “ ( or “POP”) QUIZ also is a device to assess a student’s consistent class
attendance to date. It may reveal to a student the importance of class attendance and
generate a motivation for consistent class attendance in the future. Student’s lacking valid
reasons for not attending class when SNAP QUISSES are given (reasons outlined in the
course syllabus) cannot take a quiz if one is missed.

There is NO POSSIBILITY for making up a missed SNAP QUIZ unless a student has a
signed excuse provided by a medical doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist, or other mental
health professional. Only the most extreme and critical of employment crises are
justifiable reasons for missing a SNAP QUIZ. Similarly, only a documented family
emergency (the emergency hospitalization of a child, spouse, or parent only) can excuse a
student from missing a SNAP QUIZ. Students registered with UTD’s Disabilities
Services can take a quiz at an alternate time and under modified conditions if they miss a
SNAP QUIZ when normally given. Students can be excused for a quiz and re-take it at
another type if taking the quiz conflicts with a Religious Obligation.

For all other UTD Regulations see the Attached Copy of UTD Rules.
THE QUIZ DEFINTIONS

DEFINE ALL FIVE (5) DSM IV-TR CONCEPTS


EACH DEFINTION IS WORTH 5 POINTS

“Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder” (Fourth Edition—Text Revised)


provides mental health professionals and all other health professional with a classification
schema of the complex phenomena commonly known as mental disorders or illnesses.
Provide your understanding of FIVE of these classification categories by first,
constructing a succinct definition of the disorder. Second, summoning up illustrations of
and evidence for this disorder. Third, drawing distinctions between this disorder and
possibly related disorders. Fourth, noting the symptomatology that would have manifest
itself for a patient to be placed in an alternative diagnostic category. Five, suggesting
why patients, or their advocates, may reject the evidence for this diagnosis. Six, noting
the dual or multiple diagnoses (if any) associated with this disorder’s identification.

THE DISORDERS in DSM IV-TR:

1. Autistic Disorder

2. Dementia of the Alzheimer’s Type (with late Onset)

3. Amphetamine-Induced Psychotic Disorder

4. Schizophrenia (including all subtypes)

5. Bipolar Disorders (include all subtypes)

You might also like